Grain-separator.



No. 736,370. PATEN'IIED 'AUG. 1a, 1903.

' REAGEN.

' GRAIN SEPARATOR,

APPLIUATIOIi' FILED M A-Y T, 1903.

PATENTED :A UGrIB, 1903.

P. EAGEN, GRAIN SEPARATOR. \APPLIUATION FILED MAY 7, 1903.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET- 2.

ZNIIIIIIIII o ITND.. WASHINGTON, a c

No. 736,370. 4 PATENTED AUG. 18, 1903. V P. ,EAGEN.

GRAIN SEPARATOR.

' v A PPLIOATION FILED MAY 7| 1903. L

N0 MODEL. \3 4 SHEETS- SHEET 3..

UNITED STATES I Patented August 18, 1902;.

PATENT ()FFICE- e Am-sEeARATo R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 73 6,370, dated. August 18, 1903. ApplieationfiledMay 7,1903. Sarialllo.156.052. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER EAGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oartersville, in the county of Oerro Gordo and State of Iowa, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements inGrain-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

The chiefintention of this invention is to materially increase the output of a separator of any structural type Without enlarging the machine and also to effect a thorough separation,whereby the waste of grain is obviated.

A vital feature is to gradually increase the movement of the straw from its entrance into the separator until it is discharged therefrom, whereby the straw is loosened and thinned and every opportunity afforded for the dislodgment and escape of the grain, so as to prevent its passingoff with the straw to the stack.

spective view of For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a grain-separator embodying the invention. 1 Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof- Fig. 3 is avertical central longitudinal sectionof the grain-separa tor on a larger scale." 1 Fig. 4 is ape'rspective view of the straw-rack, chaffer, and screens connected to the respective parts. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the machine, about on the line X- X of Fig. 3, on a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a detail perspectiveview of a corner portion of the straw-rack. Fig. 7 is adetail pera single toothed bar of the straw-rack. p

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In its general construction the separator i is of ordinary appearance and is mounted upon running-gear, so as tobe readily trans ported from one point to another. At the upper forward end of the machine is located the threshing mechanism, comprising toothed cylinder or drum 1 and correspondinglytoothed breast or concave 2. Rotary beater 8 is located in the rear of the threshing mechan ism to loosen the grain and eifectseparation and dislodgment of the heads from the straw. Deflectors ,4 and 5 are arranged in the rear of rotary beater 3 to prevent a too rapid rearward movement of the straw and insure delivery thereof upon theelements of the strawrack. The threshing mechanism may be of either the overshot. or undershot type, the

latter being the variety illustrated.

A chaffer or separating-sieve 6 extends nearly'the entire length and width of the machine and is located below the straw-rack, with its forward end coming beneath the threshing mechanism. 'Tliis'chaffer or separating-sieve is mounted upon swinging sup ports 7 and 8 at opposite ends of the machine, so as to receive a longitudinal vibra tory movement. A separatingsieve 9 inclines upwardly and rearwardly, and its lower forward end is connected to or rests upon the lower forward end of chaffer or separatingscreen 6. Separating-sieve 9 is supported wholly by chaffer 6 and vibrates therewith andis provided upon its front side with toothed bars 10, which engage with the straw and carry same upward and rearward, the dislodged grain dropping through the openings of screen 9 onto chaffer 6 and through the latter onto grain-pan 11, arrangedbelow the'forward portion of chaffer 6 andsupported by means of hangers 12 and 13. Ohaffer 6 receives a vibratory movement from crankshaft 14 by means of link 15, connecting a crank portion of said crank-shaft with part 6. Grain-pan 11 also receives a vibratory movement, being connected to crank portion wardly and is composed of two sets of toothed bars 17 and 18, alternately disposed and adapted to be vibrated in opposite directions. The toothed bars 17 are connected in series and are transversely spaced. The toothed bars 18 are likewise connected inseries and are transversely spaced and are arranged .to

operate in the spaces formed between toothed bars 17. Any means may be provided for connecting the respective sets of bars 17 and 18 in series. Pivoted supports 19 and 20 sustain the lower forward ends of the respective sets of toothed bars 17 and 18, and said bars are supported near their rear ends by crankshaft 21, the crank portions of which project in diametrically opposite directions, so as to impart a movement to the toothed rack-bars 17 and 18 in opposite directions at the same time. Motion is imparted to crank-shaft 21 from any convenient part of the machine or source of power. The toothed rack-bars may consist of a single element or companion bars spaced apart and connected by cross-pieces, same forming a support for the strawto prevent dropping upon the mechanism beneath the straw-rack. By having the bars 17 and 18 of the straw-rack provided with teeth positive movement of the straw through the machine is assured. A separating-screen 22 is applied to and carried by the uppermost set of toothed bars 17 and inclines upward and rearward, its lower forward end touching or resting upon the lower front end of the said set of bars 17.

A return-board 23 is located below the rear portion of the straw-rack and inclines forwardly and downwardly and is sustained in position by pivoted supports 24: and 25. The pivoted supports 25 preferably constitute a part of pivoted hangers 8, parts 8 and 25 being members of elbow-shaped or bell-crank levers. It will thus be seen that return-board 23 receives motion from ch affer or separatingscreen 6. The purpose of return-board 23 is to direct grain falling from the rear portion of the straw-rack back into the machine, so as to fall upon part 6 to insure separation of the chaff and other loose matter.

Separating-shoe 26 is arranged at the lower rear end of the machine and comprises a series of separating-sieves of the same or different mesh, according to the desired method of operation. This separating-shoe is adapted to receive a vibratory movement and is connected to the crank-shaft 14 by pitmen 16. Return-board 27 is located between separating-shoe 26 and rear portion of chaifer or separating-screen 6 and inclines forwardly and downwardly, so as to deliver the grain dropped from the rear portion of part 6 to the 1 receiving end of the topmost sieve of the shoe.

I charge of the straw from the machine.

The essential parts of the separating-rack are driven at different rates of speed in order to attain the primary object of the invention namely, to move the straw through the machine at a gradually-increasingrate of speed whereby the bed or bulk of straw is thinned and ample provision made for dislodgment andescape of all grain prior to the final dis- The separating element 9 10 is driven at a rate of speed to impart a rearward movement to the straw received thereon at a speed of about of speed from front to rear, the straw receiv ing a movement at the front end of the strawrack of about one hundred and thirty-three feet per minute, which is progressively increased to approximately two hundred and thirty-three feet per minute at the delivery end. The straw, besides being gradually thinned in bulk, is thoroughly loosened, lightened, and shaken up, so as to dislodge all grain before the straw reaches the delivery end of the machine. The return-board 27, besides serving to direct the grain upon the front portion of the topmost sieve of shoe 26, also acts as a wind-break to prevent the blast from the fan 28 blowing the grain from the rear portion of the machine along with the chaff and light stuff.

Troughs 29 and 30 are located at opposite ends of shoe 26, and each is provided with a conveyer 31 of spiral form for moving the grain therein toward one side of the machine. The cleaned grain is received in trough 29 and is discharged therefrom into a suitable receptacle (not shown) arranged for the grain to drop into. An elevator 32 communicates at its lower end with the delivery end of trough 30 and inclines forward and upward and discharges grain mixed with chaff, straw,

IOC

and foreign matter into the front portion of the machine to again pass therethrough for separation and cleaning. The several shafts are extended beyond a side of the framework, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and are provided with band-pulleys connected by drive-belts, whereby motion is transmitted from a single source of power to the several working parts.

Usually in machines of the present type the power is applied directly to the threshingcylinder 1 and is taken therefrom for driving the remaining parts. The present machine is no exception to this rule. A crossed belt 33 connects band-pulley of threshing-cylinder shaft 34 with a corresponding band-pulley applied to shaft 35 of fan 28. Drive-belt 36 connects band-pulley of shaft 34 with band-pulley 37 of crank-shaft 14 and-passes around band-pulley of shaft 38 of beater 3 and around idle pulley 39, applied to belt-tightener lever 40. Crossed belt 41 connects band-pulley of beater-shaft 38 with band-pulley of shaft 42, supporting one end of the conveyer-belt of elevator 32. Crossed belt 43 connects bandpulley of beater-shaft 38 with band-pulley of crank-shaft 21. These connections show one manner of transmitting motion to the several operating parts. Obviously the driving invention. The toothed bars 17 and 18, comprising the straw-rack, are of similar conmental bars, and the teeth fitted thereto are IO longer than the teeth applied to the supplemental bars. By constructing the toothed bars in the manner set forth a small percentage of coarse straw only will fall through the rack and reach the chaifer, thereby preventing choking of the separator andfacilitating the work.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Ina grain-separator, and in combination with the threshing mechanism, a straw-rack, a chalfer located below the straw-rack, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined screen applied to the front end of said chaifer, a returnboard located above the rear portion of the chafier and below the rear portion of the strawrack, and connecting means between the return-board and chaffer for transmitting motion from one to the other, substantially as described.

2. In combination, threshing mechanism, a chaffer, a separating-screen applied to the front end of the chaffer, a straw-rack composed of two series of toothed bars, means for imparting independent movement to the sets of toothed bars in opposite directions, a sep.a rating-screen applied to the front end of the uppermost set of toothed bars, a return-board interposed between the rear portions of the chaifer and straw-rack, a separating-shoe, a return-board between the separating-shoe and rear portion of the chaffer, and a grain pan arranged below the threshing mechanism and forward portion of the ohaffer to direct the grain received thereon to the separatingshoe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER EAGEN. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

' JAMES McMoNAGLE, MIcHAEL J. BURKE. 

